Choose the better candidate

This November’s El Dorado Irrigation District election involves questions of judgment and insight, not only for candidates but also for the public.

The most recent example is the meaning of support of two candidates by a Political Action Committee, El Dorado County Farmers, Businesses and Homebuilders for Responsible Water Policy. The PAC member with the most money is Parker Development, which drew lots of attention. Other PAC members that I’m aware of are connected mainly with agriculture, wine, the county Chamber of Commerce and the Board of Realtors. The usual rumbles of “candidates in bed with developers” started circulating, even though development decisions are made by the county, not by EID.

So I called Kirk Bone at Parker and asked some questions. He said very candidly that Parker’s interest was in security of EID water rights. The PAC had interviewed all four candidates for two seats on the EID board, found that two were very attentive to water rights, and two were not so attentive. The PAC decided to support the candidates who were more likely to pursue secure water rights, and the PAC member with the most money (Parker) paid most of the cost for a couple of mailers. So far it sounds logical.

Then some public “connected with developers” backlash started. At least in terms of water rights, some suggested something like “Horrors, the better candidates are supported by big developer. Let’s elect the others.” Our county’s populace has a lot of mixed feelings about development, but my opinion is that we should stay logical: If water rights are good, let’s protect them. Let’s handle development issues in county government, where the decisions about it are made, instead of taking a stand that can jeopardize the water supply for all of us.

Not only did this PAC feel that Dr. Dale Coco was the most qualified person for the EID Board in Division 4, but so did the slow and no growth advocates. Why did both sides choose Dr. Coco? He is the better candidate.

2 Comments for “Choose the better candidate”

JakeFlesher is for ratepayers. Dale Coco has been bought and paid for by Parker Development. Only fools like this letter writer Paul Raveling would “buy” that Kirk Bone is concerned about water rights. To Bone its all about sticking it to ratepayers for millions of dollars of extra rates to finance capacity expansion for Parker. Vote for the candidate that puts ratepayers first. VOTE FOR JAKE FLESHER.

I don’t believe it is necessary to impugn anyone’s integrity to determine who the best candidate is for the EID board from the 4th district. I attended the candidate forum held in late August in EDH and listened to both Jake Flesher and Dale Coco discuss there positions on the issues. Jake Flesher had a clear list of tactics he planned to follow to control spending by EID and reduce outstanding long term liability. Dale Coco spoke about employing “good management practices” to control EID spending. While I believe Dale Coco is a civic minded individual and I applaud his public mindedness, I don’t believe his experience as a Doctor or as a hospital administrator, qualifies him to make the difficult business decisions necessary to bring EID debt under control.

Regarding the support of Parker Development, of course they are going to support a candidate they thing is going to make decisions most favorable to their goals. Nothing wrong or subversive about that. But when it comes to Water Rights – JAKE FLESHER has done his homework and is very well educated on what EID’s water rights are, and how best to secure and utilize them for the long term future.
One candidate doesn’t have to be bad for another candidate to be better or more qualified. In this case, Jake Flesher is by far the better candidate.
Garth Hoffmann – Serrano resident